Question: Need input on 4CH. Amp

01-15-2005, 01:10 PM

I've been searching for quite sometime. I'm trying to decide on what amp I should buy and I need your input.

I'm replacing my existing audio system with my PC, I've finally finished the custom dash and I'm in the early stages for planning my audio hardware install. I need a good 4CH amp to power my stock 04 tacoma speakers. Eventually I'd like to throw in some better speakers but for now just to power the stocks. I've been to car audio shops around where I live and most of thier 4CH amps are a little overpriced... 4 X 40 RMS for like 270.00.

I've also searched on Ebay and have seen all different ranges of prices. I'd basically like a Decent amp thats not overly priced but will perform nicely with my stock speakers and eventually with higher end speakers...

Zapco makes an excellent line of entry-level amps with the iForce label. I'm using the Zapco iForce 450 right now which is absolutely fantastic for my purposes. The 1st two channels run the fronts and i'm bridging the 3&4 channels for the sub. For your configuration you could easily use the 3/4 channels to run the rears. I'm not quite sure if this is what you're looking for, but if so, I'd highly recommend it.

I believe they're going for under $200 on various places online. If you have a hard time finding one, try the guys at www.indoaudio.com/ (their phone and email are in their profile somewhere). Thats where I got mine.

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Right now, I need an amp to power my stock 04' tacoma speakers. Eventually I'd like the same amp to power a better set.

I've been looking at cheaper amps, because i feel as though they wont be so powerful as to destroy my stock speakers... But I also dont want to regret spending a little more to get a decent amp.. I'm looking at the alpine 4*50 (forget the model number)

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Yeah, no matter if you have an amp that puts out 2000 watts or 40 watts, if you turn it up the the same volume, the same amount of power is going through the speakers. The only difference is that you could turn the big amp up alot more, but you'll go deaf too. And don't worry, it'll be time to replace those stock speakers soon no matter what system ya got, it's just a fact that no stock speakers are really designed to last too long. Actually, you got a Toyota, and I've actually found that toyota uses some of the better stock speakers of all the manufacturers <Before you all call me dumb, I'm referring to basic stock car stereos, not high-end luxury cars and fancy sound systems>.

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alright, I;m going with the alpine thanks to everyone here... I think I'm also going to upgrade the speakers as well... Alpine f240 4ch AMP.

I got 5.25 components in the front and 5.25's (non component) in the rear...

Whats your thoughts about sticking with the same speaker brand throughout the car ?? Is this common or uncommon ?? You guys that compete, what do you typically do here ?? Any recommendations... I'd like to spend about 150 in the front and 150 in the rear I think that leave me with enough breathing room for a decent pair...

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it's no big deal to stick with the same brand, honnestly you just need to make sure that you have a speaker that is designed to be used within that power range, and honnestly, you can't really go wrong by going with the same brand speakers. Just keep in mind that some companies out there make a few different lines of speakers and that some of those lines are designed to be run off of the head unit power only while some are designed to be run off of a dedicated amp. A lot of people will buy the cheaper speakers and put them on am amp, then complain about the quality.....why? simply because they don't know any better. because they just don't know that there are designs that go into this stuff that is beyond most peoples comprehension.

Just keep that in mind when looking for your stuff. And I will stress again, you really can't go wrong by going with Alpine. They are just about the ONLY company out there that makes extremely high quality products all across their product lines. No other company really comes close in the quality of their head units, their F1 status stuff, etc....all excelent. And for the price, it's well worth it....some say it's expensive, compared to what? every example I've been given has been for lesser quality.

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Thnks for the response, I'm definatly going to put that into consideration. I'm currently browsing for speakers. I was thinking either JL components or alpine's... I've always liked alpine's so I might go with them...